FORMER CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENT DOESN'T RULE OUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000213 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2021 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SOCI PINR LO SUBJECT: FORMER CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENT DOESN'T RULE OUT ANOTHER CENTER-RIGHT COALITION Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D ). ¶1. (C) Pavol Hrusovsky, the chairman of the Christian Democrat Movement (KDH) and former chairman of parliament, gave the Ambassador a frank assessment of Slovakia's electoral map on March 16. Hrusovsky -- whose public split with Prime Minister Dzurinda resulted in the dissolution of the ruling coalition and the acceleration of the election cycle -- delivered a dramatic 15 minute reaffirmation of the close affinity he and his party feel for the United States and our promotion of freedom. Looking ahead to the day after the June 17 elections, Hrusovsky said his party is committed to forceful freedom advocacy, and assured the Ambassador that will not fade in the face of coalition negotiations. KDH COULD WORK WITH SF IN NEW GOVERNMENT... -------------- ¶2. (C) Hrusovsky noted that the space for a "new type" of center-right government was not only possible, but probable. KDH has had extensive discussions with Freedom Forum (SF) and its chairwoman, Zuzana Martinakova, regarding coalition possibilities; Hrusovsky said KDH does not need "Fico or HZDS." Asked about the personal animosity between Martinakova and Dzurinda, Hrusovsky noted that the coalition is about the future of the country, and not about personalities. He noted that while Dzurinda could still possibly be Prime Minister, current SDKU Finance Minister Ivan Miklos might present an attractive alternative whom Martinakova could "live with." ...BUT NOT HZDS! -------------- ¶3. (C) Painting former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar as "a criminal who has lost his mind," Hrusovsky was very animated about the need to exclude HZDS from any future coalitions. When the Ambassador asked Hrusovsky about whether HZDS could participate without Meciar, Hrusovsky said "there is no party without Meciar." He also noted that HZDS MP Viliam Veteska, who currently serves as Vice Chairman of parliament, is not an acceptable alternative, as Hrusovsky's experiences with Veteska suggested that the Vice Chairman has "strong Meciar-like tendencies." Only, Hrusovsky said, in the "most extraordinary of circumstances" would KDH coalesce with elements of HZDS. COMMENT: LACK OF ANIMOSITY FOR DZURINDA -------------- ¶4. (C) Hrusovsky demonstrated a noticeable lack of animosity for Dzurinda. During the Prime Minister's flight to Washington last week, Dzurinda told the Ambassador that his famous "political nose" smelled good things for the upcoming elections. Dzurinda said that KDH and Smer are too ideologically apart for close cooperation, and that SDKU is ideologically closer to Smer than is KDH. SMK chairman Bela Bugar demonstrated a close relationship with Dzurinda on the trip to Washington, reinforcing the fact that a post-election center right coalition may already have a SDKU-SMK "anchor." ¶5. (C) COMMENT, cont'd: Similarly, Prime Ministerial advisor Milan Jezovica told us recently that the SDKU-KDH bridges have definitely not been burned, at least from the PM's perspective. According to Dzurinda, Hrusovsky and former KDH Justice Ministe Daniel Lipsic were the first two people to text message their condolences to the PM after he broke his leg while skiing. When Ambassador mentioned this text message anecdote, Hrusovsky smiled broadly, and suggested monthly "friend to friend" meetings with the Embassy to keep us updated on the political landscape. VALLEE